More Australians Need Treatment For Drug Addiction Over Alcohol Addiction

Amphetamine Treatments Up

2017-06-27T19:34:13Z

More Australians are undergoing treatment for drug use over alcohol use, and amphetamine addiction has more than doubled, according to a report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

New stats shows that about 134,000 people received drug treatment in 2015-16, equating to around one in 180 people.

Alcohol remained the most common drug people sought treatment for, accounting for 32 per cent of all drug treatment episodes.

However this is down from 46 per cent in 2011-12.

Over the same five-year period, the proportion of people seeking treatment for amphetamine use has more than doubled from 11 per cent to 23 per cent. Rising from around 16,900 in 2011-12 to 46,400 in 2015-16.

Cannabis use is up by 4 per cent. Heroin and alcohol treatment have fallen by 15 per cent and six per cent respectively.

In South Australia, Western Australia and in Queensland amphetamines and cannabis were the most common drugs that people sort treatment for. Alcohol treatment was more common across the other states and territories.

The research also found that men were more likely to seek help over women and quarter of people seeking treatment were aged between 20-29. Counselling remains the most common type of treatment.

Anyone who may need support with drug or alcohol addiction, can contact the Alcohol and Drug Foundation at adf.org.au/help-support/ or call 1300 85 85 84